Ministry of Defense: Russia-backed militants shell residential area of Zaitseve village

Yesterday in the morning Russia-backed militants shelled the civilian infrastructure of Zaitseve with artillery and mortars. They made five shots from 122-mm artillery and fired about 20 rounds from 120-mm mortars. “There were no civilian casualties. The shelling damaged six houses of local residents,” reported Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire 19 times, all of the incidents were precision attacks. Militants used 82-mm and 120-mm mortars against the Ukrainian troops defending Svitlodarsk, Luhanske, Troitske, Prychepylivka, Novotoshkivske, Zaitseve, Krymske, Zolote, and Maiorsk. Militants fired a total of 60 rounds from 120-mm mortars and over 80 rounds from 82-mm mortars. Ukrainian troops also recorded hostile attacks involving IFV mounted weapons, grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns. “Ukrainian troops defending Luhanske came under fire of a ZU-23-2 antiaircraft mount,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson added.

In Donetsk sector, militants opened precision fire 36 times. “Russia-backed militants fired several 82-mm mortar rounds at the strongholds of the Joint Forces near Pisky, Kamianka, and Talakivka,” Colonel Hutsulyak said. Militants used grenade launchers, small arms and heavy machine guns in this area as well. “Hostile fire was registered near Lebedynske, Hnutove, Vodiane, Talakivka, Pisky, and Pishchevyk. Russian proxies opened fire outside Pavlopil, Kamianka, Maryinka, and Shyrokyne (four times at each location). Moreover, they delivered seven attacks on four times Ukrainian troops defending Avdiivka,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson said. In addition, Ukrainian troops recorded sniper attacks outside Pavlopil and Maryinka in the daytime and in the evening.

As of the morning of May 4, militants have already made nine precision attacks. At night, Russian proxies used 120-mm mortars against Ukrainian troops’ positions in Novhorodske and Maiorsk having fired 60 rounds. At 05:45 militants opened precision fire with 82-mm mortars near Starohnativka. The attack lasted for an hour, militants fired over 20 rounds. “Last night Russia-backed militants opened harassing fire using grenade launchers and small arms against the positions of the Joint Forces outside Novhorodske, Troitske, Kamianka, Shyrokyne and three times against the Ukrainian troops defending Avdiivka,” Colonel Hutsulyak elaborated.

Report on the military developments as of May 3 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.